The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-04-07
Sherman and Blaine.

Senator Sherman S mastery speech at
Nashville, is calling out no little comment
from the Democratic press, and vast
amount of ill-natured.. illiberal sneering
and unfriendly criticism. 1t might be
expected that any argument or statement
of facts which exposed the weakness and
fallacy of Democratic theories, legislation
and methods, and a corresponding strength.
force and value of Republican policy, NJ uld
be lily received by Bourbonism, The
S .nator made calm, penetrating argu-
melt in behalf Of the protective policy,
liberal all by the national government to
popuI " education and the improvement
of important water, ways; and in doing
this, necessarily had to condemn the Dem
ocratic party. 1t was the facts that hurt,
and unable to counteract their effect by
legitimate argument, the only thing left
was personal abuse and assaults upon his
motives. lie lodged some stubborn truths
with his Southern hearers. which will
bring forth good frait in the near future.
1t is fear of this that has lnstigated the
snirhng, disgusting epithets which have
been directed against him.
Of course, it is assumed that the prime
object of the Senator s visit to the South,
is the advancement of his political inter-
ests-tilat he simply has come to COM
mand Southern votes in the Republican
National Convention and but for this
hope he would not have made the journey
he did through portions of the South. 10
sensible men this is nonsense. There is
scarcely day that prominent Northern
and Western men do not visit the South,
to see for themselves the evidences OF her
remarkable growth and she activity IN IN
dustrial enterprises which are disturbing
the fossils and Shaking up the dry bones.
Why may not Senator Sherman, as we'll
any ether public man, crafty his curios
ity in this respect, and respond to a
respectful request to address the people
as to the best policy to be adopted to
further these interests without having
his motive questioned
Hon. James G. Blaine, too. at this pro-
piIious season-the opening Spring-has
seen proper to visit his daughter now in
Arizona, where her husband is stationed
at military post. Although he has made
no formal speech or speeches, it is ar
nounced by the Democratic press. that g
too, is looking after political fences ana
that his journey is to offset the effect of
that of Mr.. Sherman. 1t is quite prob
able that neither thought Of the other in
planning his tour, nor had he in mind any
particular influence it might exert upon
the policy OF purpose of the party to which
both belong. Certainly, nothing has
fallen from either that could be so cen
strued. They have the right to visit any
portion of the Union, and it seems to us
that the people of the South ought to |
receive with satisfaction the presence of |
any one. whose name and fame would be |
likely to influence others to follow their
examrle. Certainly neither the South nor
West will be damaged By the visits of
Sherman and Blaine, Enor will any great
interest of the country be jeopardized.-
It is about time that We were dropping into
Il, n )cuous desuetude'' the petty prolin-
cialism that is intolerant of the p;ese nee
Or the arguments of prominent men of
either party We should welcome them
ill. that as urance may be given that we
ire in the Union to stay, and tlat any
IN every national question can be dis
susse and respectfully heard in every por- I
ion of the Southland.